(Credit and Caption for Photo: A Reserve police officer was placed on administrative leave and then suspended without pay after being accused of battery in Florida and retail theft in Ohio Township. (Courtesy of Reserve Township)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Reserve Township, PA) Manuel Pihakis, a police officer in Reserve Township, has been suspended without pay while facing criminal charges in two states, according to Police Chief Brandon Morgan. 

Pihakis, 36, was first charged in Sumter County, Florida, where court documents allege he bit a woman at a community pool and struck her in the back of the head at his family’s home. Following those charges, the Reserve Township Police Department placed him on administrative leave. 

More than two weeks later, Pihakis was charged again, this time in Ohio Township. 

Investigators allege Pihakis committed retail thefts at a Giant Eagle and a nearby Target over several months. 

According to court documents, surveillance footage showed Pihakis “skip scanning” at self-checkout stations — scanning some items while failing to scan others before placing all merchandise into bags and leaving the stores. 

Police said the alleged thefts occurred repeatedly between December 2025 and April 2026. The criminal complaint accuses Pihakis of stealing $283.08 worth of merchandise from Target and $167.45 in goods from Giant Eagle, including Dove soap, Red Bull and Twizzlers. 

Following the new charges, Morgan said Pihakis has now been suspended without pay pending further review. Morgan also told WTAE-TV that Pihakis’ employment status will be discussed during a June council meeting. 

Pihakis faces misdemeanor battery charges in Florida and misdemeanor retail theft charges in Pennsylvania. 

His Pennsylvania case is scheduled to go before a judge next month.